Vizcaya opens 100 year old village to public

On Wednesday, January 11, Vizcaya will host the Gardens by Moonlight event, which will offer guests the rare opportunity to explore the historic Vizcaya Village at night. This event is one of the first that celebrates Vizcaya's centennial, the perfect opportunity to reflect on the rich past of this National Historic Landmark and its unique role in South Florida's history. For one-night only, the community will be invited to venture into an unseen portion of the estate-the historic Vizcaya Village- which is a natural extension of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, located across South Miami Avenue from the Main House and Gardens.

The historic Village was part of the original 1916 estate, and consisted of more than a dozen buildings with the intent of making Vizcaya virtually self-sufficient. This idea evoked the spirit of European country villas while, on a practical level, compensating for the limited services and merchandise available in early twentieth-century Miami. The Village included staff quarters, an automobile garage, workshops and an array of barns.

Gardens by Moonlight will mark one of the first times that Vizcaya Village is open to the public, and will set the stage for many more community events to come during Vizcaya's centennial year. Vizcaya's 100-year anniversary coincides with the development of an ambitious Master Plan, which will breathe new life into the Vizcaya as a South Florida asset. This plan outlines a strategic approach, expanding Vizcaya's programmatic potential for locals and visitors and relating its full history through the restoration of land and historic buildings at the Vizcaya Village.

From 6:00 to 9:00 pm, the public is invited to experience the Village as it showcases a little-known aspect of Vizcaya's history. As they discover this hidden site, guests will also enjoy live musical entertainment by The Wilson Slayers, FUN, Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling Strings Band, and Three Sheets to the Wind band. They will also experience installations from the Lost Village exhibit. Part of Vizcaya's Contemporary Arts Program (CAP), Lost Village retells the untold stories of this space through works by local artists, which include: Gaby Suarez, Bill Burke, Jacek Kolasinski, Donna Torres, Robert Chambers, Mette Tommerup, David Almeida, Sterling Rook, Michelle Barros, Camilla Canchon, Alex Narus, Michael Gray, Guido Mena and Karol Contreras. Food will be available for purchase from local food trucks, including Ms. Cheezious, BC Tacos, and others.

To purchase tickets to the Vizcaya Village edition of Gardens by Moonlight on January 11, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. please visit Eventbrite. Tickets are $20 for the general public, $15 for Vizcaya Members, and $6 for children ages 6-12. Children age 5 and under are admitted for free. Please note that you must be on site by 8:00 p.m. to be admitted to the program. Refunds for late arrivals will not be given.